I insisted I didn’t need a ratcheting screwdriver for a long time because I had this strange attachment to the screwdriver sets hanging on my peg board. It had nothing to do with the screwdrivers themselves. It was the display. I liked seeing them neatly lined up from smallest to biggest, flatheads on the left and Phillips on the right. Whatever chaos was happening in the world, it was calm inside my workshop because my screwdrivers were in order. I’m a little OCD and I own it!
Why I purchased a ratcheting screwdriver
So what pushed me over the edge? As I’ve mentioned before, I spend most weekends at the school we own, fixing furniture, doors, lights, etc. I have a tool bag that accompanies me and it has the requisite pockets for tools. I carry two screwdrivers, one flathead and one Phillips head. And about half the time, this works fine.
The other half of the time, I find myself needing a size or type I don’t carry, which means I have to remember to bring the correct screwdriver on my next trip to the school. The school is decades old, so several handymen have implemented their screw preferences. As a result, I’m often scrambling for square and torx bits during my repair work. I would need seven screwdrivers to cover the range – too many to lug around in a bag full of other, more frequently used tools.
I started looking for screwdrivers with multiple bits and quickly landed on this model from Duratech.
The Good Stuff
In a simple tool, it’s the little things that make for a positive or negative review. With the Duratech Ratcheting Screwdriver, there are a lot of little good things!
- The handle stores the bits. Not only does this remove the need to have multiple screwdrivers in your tool bag, it also removes the need to carry a separate case for the bits.
- The handle holds six double-ended bits, giving you the utility of 12 screwdrivers. You can see the 12 types of bits in the image above. They cover all seven of the types I use most often.
- The bits fit into the handle via compression. To remove a bit, you push from the end near the bit holder and it slides out the end of the handle. To store a bit, you push it back into the end of the handle. Some other multi-bit screwdrivers have hollowed-out handles to store the bits. The end of the handle is a cap that you screw on and off to access the bits. I think that’s a pain in the ass. Duratech’s method is much faster and there’s no cap for me to lose.
- The bits lock into the bit holder. They can’t fall out while in use. To remove the bit, just slide the collar of the bit holder toward the handle and it ejects the bit.
- I didn’t think I needed the ratcheting feature, but it’s very handy. It allows you to keep a firm grip on the handle – meaning there’s no release of pressure to reset your grip as you turn the driver. This also means you’re keeping pressure on the screw. I do a fair amount of work on lights and other ceiling fixtures where I’m holding the screwdriver upside down. The ratcheting feature means I no longer go through the tedious process of trying to set a screw, watching it fall because it didn’t set on the first turn of my non-ratcheting screwdriver, climbing down the ladder, getting on my hands and knees to find the screw (because it invariably rolls under something), and climbing back up the ladder to try again.
- It’s a set, which means you get a stubby version with the regular-length version. I don’t use the stubby much, but it’s great for tight spots where the regular length doesn’t fit.
The Bad Stuff
Just a few minor quibbles here.
- Duratech missed an opportunity to make these magnetic. I don’t think it’s a requirement, but it would have been a nice touch.
- I wish there was a larger flathead bit. It comes with 4mm and 5mm bits. The 4mm is small enough to use in electronics applications so that one should stay. But the 5mm bit is too close in size and is not big enough for other more general applications. At least in my work, I would have preferred 6mm, maybe even 7mm.
- The ratcheting feature is engaged by twisting the metal ring at the end of the handle near the bit holder. If you look closely, the three positions (screw in, screw out, no ratchet) are marked on the ring. My quibble is that the markings are too hard to see. I’ve used the tool enough I can engage by feel now, but it was a hassle in the beginning and I was recently reminded when I tried to teach my son how to use it.
Conclusion
The Duratech Ratcheting Screwdriver Set is a great buy at just $22 on Amazon. These two drivers, each with 12 bits, replace all of the regular screwdrivers I use most often (and then some). I know what you’re thinking – I just wrote a 1,000-word review for a screwdriver, WTF! Guess what, you just read a 1,000-word review for a screwdriver! 😉
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Finally, I only recommend products that I use on a regular basis and have proved their worthiness over time. Check out the Product Recommendations page to see more.
